The Auburn coach's promise to throw the ball more often in his second season will be fulfilled only if his receivers follow through, and so far the Tigers believe their options are abundant and strong.

"Really, for the first time, at least since I've been at Auburn, we've got deep threats at every position we put on the field," Malzahn said Monday on SiriusXM radio. "Hopefully that will equate into some big plays in the passing game."

Better than the days of Darvin Adams and Emory Blake, when the Tigers piled up 3,002 passing yards in 2010? That's the confidence bubbling inside Malzahn, whose inclusion of newcomer D'haquille Williams in the offense has Auburn believing it could have the best receivers in the SEC.

"He's got a special talent," Malzahn said. "He's got that ability to go attack the ball, he can get open, you don't have to tell him how to run around. He just knows how to and he's had a very good spring, very good fall camp."

Sammie Coates, who was eighth nationally in yards per catch (21.5) last season, returns after a 900-yard season. Ricardo Louis, who fans will always remember for his 73-yard tipped touchdown catch against Georgia, is also back. It's those big threats -- they all stand tall at 6-foot-2 -- that has Malzahn expecting a breakout season in the passing game, which ranked 108th nationally at 173 yards per game in 2013.

"It's going to be hard to double-team anybody on our team," Coates said. "We have a lot of threats everywhere."

Of course, the lack of big numbers in the passing game last season was mostly by design. Running back Tre Mason broke school records as Auburn reached the BCS National Championship Game. The Tigers also became the first SEC team in history to lead the nation in rushing.

Quarterback Nick Marshall is more familiar with the scheme and has sharpened his accuracy following and up-and-down start to his career. He led the nation with a 92.6 quarterback rating in Week 9 and beyond, according to ESPN, though the Tigers failed to throw more than nine passes in back-to-back weeks.

Marshall's development and the addition of Williams, who picked up junior college All-America honors and caught 118 passes for 2,028 yards and 26 touchdowns in two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, should result in a more robust passing attack.

"They're going to make us earn it in the passing game and that's why in the spring and fall camp we really worked hard on our play-action passes and taking advantage of what they give us," Malzahn said. "I feel real good about it right now, but until we face an opponent that's yet to be seen."